Pick Me Up! 21-Oct-2021

Staring at the ceiling, I turned over to the alarm clock which read 3am. My rescue cat, Albert, sleeping peacefully at the bottom of my feet. When I had rescued him only a month before, I heard multiple stories of pets that had been brought to the rescue center during lockdown. Many owners were struggling to care for their furry friends due to job losses and cutbacks. That’s when it hit me. I needed to help. What if I could supply equipment to those who needed it the most? I wanted to support others so they never had to rehome their beloved pets. Later on that morning I shared my thoughts with my closest friends. ‘Brilliant idea, why doesn’t this sort of thing exist already?’ they replied. After their approval,…

WE’RE LOVING Staying in has never looked so good with the first ever on-demand Happy Hour. From the folks at Your Big Night In, all you need to do is place your order and you’ll receive everything you need to kick off the night in just 30 minutes. With pre-mixed cocktails from Tails Cocktails and lots of nibbles, this box won’t disappoint! • Your Big Happy Hour, £30 – order nationwide from Uber Eats and Deliveroo. What a great idea We’re always trying to find ways to be more sustainable, especially when it comes to single-use plastic. That’s why we love this super cute range of straws from Bendies, that come in an array of character pouches. Each pouch contains two reusable silicone straws for you to use time and…

When lockdown restrictions lifted, I celebrated by visiting Mount Snowdon. On the day of the climb, my girlfriend Sara was working. I got this pic on the summit, so she was there anyway! Mark Dabbs, Walsall My energetic cat Mabel wore herself out after an attack of the zoomies! Emily Shiers, Gloucester Say cheese! My boy Ronnie enjoying our walk at the park. Bless him! Alexandra Low, Halesowen STAR LETTER This is me getting stuck in the mud on one of my lockdown walks in the countryside. Claire Marie Ferris, Warwickshire This is my husband after ordering the huge 20oz Tomahawk steak. He ate it all, no problem! Lisa Adams, West Midlands If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of…

Hanging out at my friend’s ranch, I couldn’t stop admiring the man sitting opposite me. Scott was three years older than me, and we were in college together in Oklahoma. Hanging out at parties and fishing with our friends, we got to know each other fairly well. However, we had a strictly platonic relationship. Then, after finishing college in 2003, I soon moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue my dreams of teaching. I didn’t hear from Scott again, but in 2017, he popped up on Facebook. Hi there, he wrote. If I’m honest, I was a little shocked to hear from him! However, we soon started chatting back and forth, and agreed to meet up when I went back home for Christmas. After 14 years, I couldn’t wait to see…

Abi Neale, 29 and Karl Neale, 29, started Village Wax Melts with a pot of melted wax and a small range of scents created in the spare bedroom of their home in Bolton. Today Abi and Karl have just processed their 100,000th order! Wax melts are a low-cost alternative to candles that the home with a wick-free, long-lasting scent. ‘We’ve always loved home fragrances but struggled to find any that lasted, that’s when we had the idea of making them ourselves,’ Abi explains. At first, they just made them for family and friends but now we can all enjoy the range that includes 80 amazing scents. Discover more at www.villagewaxmelts.com…

Designer Henry Holland has teamed up with online department store Freemans, and it’s a collaboration we’re excited about! The new collection, called Henry Holland Modern Living, consists of 100 affordable pieces that stay true to Henry’s design aesthetic and interiors vision, with a nod to iconic designs from the 1970’s. Get high-end looks for a fraction of the price at Freemans.com An affordable way to get on board the retro trend!…